Red Alert as Blizzards, Freezing Rain Lash N. China

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,224 Days Left 

[November 4, 2012] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,224 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 ...

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Heaviest snowfall in 62 years reported in Beijing’s Yanqing County

Heavy snowfall and sleet blanketed north China and temperatures dipped as cold weather gripped the region, prompting the authorities to issue blizzard warnings and a regional red alert.

Beijing authorities issued a citywide orange alert, China’s second highest, as the cold front dumped a record 58 mm of snow on the NW section of the city, according to the Beijing Meteorological Center.

Original caption:  Paramilitary policemen clean snow on the Badaling section of Beijing-Tibet expressway, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 4, 2012. The capital city had witnessed snowfall and sleet since Saturday night as cold current swept north China and dropped temperature. Over 1,000 vehicles were trapped on the snow-covered Badaling section. Rescue work is underway. (Xinhua/Li Guangyin)

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

GLOBAL WARNING

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!

Disaster Declared in 94 Counties across 4 States

Extreme Weather Events Cause Agricultural Disasters in  Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin

Damage and losses caused by the combined effects of blizzards, excessive snow, excessive heat, excessive rain, high winds, hail, freeze, frost, tornadoes, flooding and lightening that occurred between January 1 and May 11, 2012 prompted USDA to declare disaster in 94 counties across 4 states.

List of the 72 Michigan counties declared Primary Disaster Areas

List of 10 Michigan counties declared Contiguous Disaster Areas

The following 12 counties in Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin have also been designated as disaster areas because they are contiguous.

• Indiana: Elkhart, Lagrange, La Porte, St. Joseph and Steuben counties.
• Ohio: Fulton, Lucas and Williams counties.
• Wisconsin: Florence, Forest, Marinette and Vilas counties.

March Heat, April Freezes

According to a report by the Central Region Climate Response Team, March Heat, April Freezes, March 2012 “was the warmest March on record for 25 states east of the Rockies, and for 15 other states this March ranked among the ten warmest.”

“During the middle of March maximum temperatures were averaging 40 degrees F above normal. Maximum temperatures regularly reached the low and mid 80s
well north into Wisconsin. Many locations broke daily records by more than 20 degrees F.”

However, April 2012 experienced “at least three significant cold air masses” that crept into the Midwest and caused freezing temperatures.

• Iowa. The freeze caused a 50% destruction of the grape crop, about 90% damage to the apple and fruit tree blossoms and caused significant damage to corn and other crops.

• Illinois. The 2012 apple crop in parts of the state was a total loss due to freeze on April 11.
  • “Sweet corn grower in Vermilion County planted sweet corn on March 19. Plants were up a couple of leaves when back‐to‐back freezes hit (26F and 27F), reducing stand by 5,000 plants per acre.
  • “Sleepy Creek Vineyard in Vermilion County reported earliest budding grapevines had 100 percent damage, and others had 80 percent damage.”

• Michigan. “Thousands of acres of this year’s grape crop have been lost across southwest lower Michigan.
  • “A surveyor for National Grape Cooperative, better known as Welch’s Foods, said he went through hundreds of acres before even finding a live bud.  John Jasper estimates more than 10,000 acres were destroyed April 12, mostly in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties.
  • “Many apple, peach, cherry and blueberry orchards have also had substantial losses across northern Indiana and southern Lower Michigan.”

• Wisconsin.  “Cherry growers in Door County, WI, anticipate losses of 70% …”

• Kentucky.  Frost damaged apples, peaches, pears, plums, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, and grapes to varying degrees across the state.
  • “Wheat harvest began two weeks early in Kentucky due to warm weather, but warm temperatures, and then a brief cold snap, have wreaked havoc on the crop’s yield, which some farmers say has been cut nearly in half. Some farmers are getting 12 bu/acre, compared to a normal of 80 bu/acre,” said the report (PDF file).

Other Global Disasters, Significant Events

Up-to-date weekly average CO₂ at Mauna Loa

• Week of June 24, 2012:     395.33 ppm
• Weekly value from 1 year ago:     393.50 ppm
• Weekly value from 10 years ago:     375.08 ppm

Recent Mauna Loa CO₂

• May 2012:     396.78 ppm
• May 2011:     394.16 ppm
• May 2002:    375.65 ppm
• May 1962:     321.01 ppm
• [1-year increase: 2.62 ppm; 10-year increase: 21.13 ppm; 50-year increase: 75.77 ppm]

Recent Global CO₂

• April 2012:     394.01 ppm (1-year increase: 2.18 ppm)
• April 2011:     391.83 ppm

New Zealand Earthquake

• A Richter magnitude 7.0 quake struck the Cook Strait, west coast of North Island, NZ, about 100km SSW of New Plymouth and 170 km north-west of Wellington (40.00°S, 173.75°E), at a depth of about 230km on Tuesday, July 3 2012 at 10:36UTC.
  • NO tsunami warning was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
  • NO report of casualties, as of posting.
  • The quake shook Wellington and was felt as far away as the Bay of Plenty and Christchurch, reports said.

U.S. Heat Wave

US Weather Hazards Map, July 3, 2012. “The heat wave continues for a large portion of the central and eastern U.S., with high temperatures this afternoon forecast to be 10-15 degrees above normal. Combined with high levels of humidity, this will create dangerous heat index values as high as 100-110 degrees for locations such as Minneapolis, Chicago, Kansas City and St. Louis,” said NWS.

The core of the record heat in the central United States is forecast to move gradually to the east this week, however heat alerts and heat indices to 105 degrees will continue. “Much of the eastern half of the country will continue to bake under clear skies, high temperatures and a lack of significant rain,” said NOAA forecasters.

Continued relentless heat through most of the week from the Plains to the Atlantic Coast will dominate the weather events.

Current Warnings Prompted by Unrelenting Heat

Red Flag Warnings, Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories issued in parts of 26 states from Wyoming to North Carolina.

Heat Advisories

Heat Advisories are in effect until this evening for parts of the Northern Plains, Ohio Valley and the Southeast:

• North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio, West Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida.

Record Daily High Temperatures Nationwide – June 2012

All Time Record High Temperatures Nationwide – June 2012

Mid-Atlantic Derecho

• Death toll has climbed to 22 after the weekend derecho that ravaged the Mid-Atlantic region, with at least 2 million utility customers, or an estimated 7 million people, experiencing power outages amid the continued heat.

Drought Emergency

• Nebraska.  Gov. Heineman has declared a state emergency due to the drought conditions throughout the state of Nebraska.
  • “This declaration is important for continued efforts of state officials to ensure the safety of Nebraskans,” Heineman said. “This action is necessary as dry conditions are presenting an imminent threat to the ability of local governments to respond to drought conditions. Additionally, actions such as haying along the roadsides in Nebraska help with drought conditions.”
  • Nebraska has broken or tied scores of record high temperatures in recent days.
  • Extreme temperatures will continue over central and western Nebraska through at least Friday due to high pressure lingering over the Central Plains, NWS reported.
  • “As excessive heat and dry conditions continue, fire danger is high again today. In addition, isolated thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening in north central Nebraska and in the Panhandle. The very dry conditions will continue to make the use of fireworks and even power equipment hazardous.”

Map of U.S. Precipitation (7-day total)

Map of U.S. Precipitation as Percent of Normal (7-day total)

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• 2012 Disaster Calendar

States of emergency declared in Bulgaria

“Code Red” remains amid Bulgaria’s deadly blizzards

Powerful blizzards and extreme cold prompt Bulgarian authorities to declare states of emergency in dozens of districts and municipalities.

Disaster Calendar 2012 – January 27

[January 27, 2012]  Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.  SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,510 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

• Bulgaria. A countrywide “Code Red” warning, which was earlier issued by the Bulgarian authorities, remains activated, reports said.
  • States of emergency have also been declared in the districts of Pazardzhik, Ruse,  Smolyan and Sofia as well as the municipalities of Batak, Godech,  Ivanovo, Lisichevo, Lovech,  Svoge, and Velingrad, the Ministry of Interior has announced.
  • Bulgaria was hit by powerful blizzards, with heavy snow blocking roads and leaving thousands of people without electricity, a report said.
  • The country will be hit by an historic cold snap over the next week, forecasters said, with the wind chill factor dropping to -20ºC.
  • “Bulgaria was thrown into chaos during the first days of the new year as heavy snow and torrential rains cut off electricity, stranded people, cars, buses and trucks,” the report said.
  • The freezing weather has caused at least four deaths this month.

Other Disasters

• Victoria, Australia.  Health authorities in the Australian state of Victoria have reported an outbreak of bird flu at two farms.
  • To contain the outbreak, more than 10,000 ducks will have to be culled, a report said.

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• Mass Die-offs

• 2010 Disasters [Links to 2010 Disaster Calendar]
• Mega Disasters
• 2011 Disaster Calendar

Tornadoes, Severe Weather Continued across the US

Multiple Tornadoes Sighted in Oklahoma and Kansas

Tornadoes and severe storms have claimed about a dozen lives, destroyed homes and school buildings; significant damage reported at Atoka and Tushka, Oklahoma with at least 30 people injured: Reports

• Lightning knocked a tree into a home in Garland County, Arkansas, killing the two occupants.
• Falling trees have killed at least four more people in Arkansas, police said.

At least 10 tornadoes touched down the central and southern plains on Thursday (local time), the National Weather Service (NWS) reported. More tornados and powerful thunderstorms expected to strike the south on Friday (see forecast map below).

Tornadoes were sighted  in Atoka, Johnston, Lincoln, Marshall, Murray, Osage, and Pushmataha counties in Oklahoma and in Chautauqua, Cowley and Saline counties in Kansas, NWS reported

“There were reports of significant damage to the Oklahoma communities of Atoka and Tushka. There were 86 reports of high winds with the top recording noted at 80 mph near Russellville in Pope County, Ark. There were also 122 reports of large hail with the largest stones measured at 4.25-inch diameter in Johnston, Murray, Pontotoc and Pushmataha counties in Oklahoma.”

Powerful Spring Storm System Slams the Central Gulf Coast Region with Tornadoes, Severe Thunderstorm Winds and Large Damaging Hail

Severe weather threat is expected to move east today, affecting Atlantic Coast from Virginia to Georgia, NWS reported.

Click image to enlarge. Click HERE to enter NWS portal.

Atlanta, Georgia Radar – Base Reflectivity.  Click image to enlarge. Click HERE to update. 

States of Emergency

• Alabama.  Gov Bentley is declaring a State of Emergency for all Alabama counties following severe weather which brought tornados, severe t-storms, hail and strong winds earlier today, a report said. At least one person was killed in
• “This is a serious storm that has already caused significant damage across the South. I hope Alabamians take extreme caution while these storms move through,” said Bentley.
• “There are confirmed reports of tornado touchdowns in the following Alabama counties:  Monroe, Greene, Marengo, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Choctaw. Multiple injuries have been reported in Sumter, Greene and Marengo counties.” The report said.
• “An apparent tornado struck Bellington Circle approximately 6 miles south of Linden [Marengo County.] Law enforcement confirmed 1 fatality and at least 4 injuries.” The National Weather Service reported.
• Mississippi. “A State of Emergency has been declared for 14 Mississippi counties after tornadoes and high winds whipped through the state today, causing multiple injuries, shutting down I-20, ravaging homes and businesses and knocking out power to thousands.” Said a report.
• Oklahoma.  Gov. Mary Fallin has declared a state of emergency in 26 Oklahoma counties, a report said. The declaration include the following counties: Atoka, Carter, Coal, Creek, Custer, Delaware, Harper, Johnston, Latimer, LeFlore, Lincoln, Love, Marshall, Murray, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pushmataha, Rogers, Seminole, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington and Woodward.

From: 2011 Disaster Calendar – April

Related Link

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• US Tornadoes – UPDATE
• Mega Tornadoes to Bombard U-S Tornado Alley

• TEXAS ON FIRE
• Global Disaster Forecast – UPDATE 17 Mar
• 2011 Disaster Calendar
• Extreme fire danger, continued major flooding in the US

• US Wildfire Pattern Consistent with Drought
• Denver wildfire forces evacuation of 10,000 homes
• Wildfires Wreaking Havoc Across the U.S.
• World on Fire

• US Severe Weather Forecast: T-Storms, Tornadoes
• Deadly EF2 Tornado Strikes Louisiana Town
• U-S Attacked by Continued Severe Weather
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